How's Patrick Mahomes' ankle? Here's what Chiefs QB says ahead of Broncos game.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Emotions turned on a Chiefs touchdown celebration early in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambled to his right, looking to score his second rushing touchdown of the season, but was met by a pair of defenders. Running back Samaje Perine started to block one, then released into the end zone to catch a flip-pass for a touchdown.

The play was quintessential Mahomes: avoiding trouble, then improvising to produce a score. But as the ball left his hand, Mahomes changed his pace and stutter-stepped. His left ankle was injured without contact.

Mahomes initially got some help up, but by the time he reached the sideline he was walking on his own. He started jogging before re-entering the game and never missed a snap in the Chiefs’ 30-24 overtime victory.

So, two days later, how is the ankle?

“It’s doing good,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “Obviously, it was a little bit of a roll. It’s a little bit sore. But I’m able to move around. I’m looking forward to getting out in practice and seeing how I can push it as the week goes on.”

Mahomes isn’t expected to miss any playing time as the Chiefs take an 8-0 record into Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos. He’s missed only two starts in his career because of injury (in 2019, when he dislocated a kneecap).

Mahomes was on the injury report last week with an ankle injury, having rolled it in the Chiefs’ victory at the Las Vegas Raiders.

On the play against the Bucs, Mahomes said he had the goal line in mind.

“I was going to run,” he said. “At the last second I saw (Perine) open, and I was just trying to get the ball out before I passed that line of scrimmage there. It (the ankle) kind of snagged on me a little bit with the previous injury and just sent a sharp pain down my leg.”

“Once the pain went away, I was able to get back out there and play again.”